Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 66
Focus: Psalm 66:10,12

For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver… but you brought us to a place of abundance.

What is the difficulty you are going through at this moment in your life? My prayer is that God will use this trial to develop deeper character in you.

I realize that trials aren’t much fun. But I also know that God uses problems and pain in our lives to do some of his best work. James 1:2-4 says, “Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”

The psalmist saw the difficult situations God allowed Israel to endure in that light. I pray that you, too, will see your trying situation, above all else, as the work of the Great Refiner to bring about his pure character in you.

I came across this story of how a silversmith described the process of purifying silver. I hope it gives you a whole new perspective:

The silversmith said, “To refine the silver, I sit with my eyes steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured. I never take my eye off of the silver in the furnace. I don’t want to take it out too early, because if I take it out too early, it won’t be purified. But I don’t want to leave it in too long, because if I leave it in too long, it will be injured. When the silver is in the fire, I focus. I don’t let anything distract me. I let nothing take my focus off the silver. I watch the silver carefully, waiting for the right moment to take it out.”

The silversmith was asked, “How do you know when it is the right moment?”

And he said, “I know the silver is pure when I can see my face reflected in it.”

In the Old Testament book of Malachi, God describes himself as a refiner and purifier of silver. What a awesome picture of God, the great silversmith and you, the silver. You are never left in the refiner’s fire too long, or taken out too soon…but are always under the watchful eye of the one who fully understands the refining process. And when, as a result of the fire, your life reflects the image of Christ, you will be ready… purified like pure silver.

Hang in there, you’re going to really shine when this is all said and done.

__________________

“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.” (C.S. Lewis)

Making Life Work: If you are going through a difficult season that has no end in sight, practice the spiritual discipline of “hanging in there.”  It doesn’t sound like very much fun, but what option do you have?  Actually, it is the best option you have, since to express trust in God’s  lovingkindness is an act of faith that initiatives God’s favor.  As God’s Word promise, those who trust in the Lord will never be put to shame.